DaimlerChrysler
North Atlantic Challenge - HSH Nordbank Retires
Newport,
R.I. (June 23, 2003) – HSH Nordbank, one
of the five yachts to start in Class II on June
21, has retired from the DaimlerChrysler North
Atlantic Challenge due to equipment failure. “The
decision was executed on June 23 at 0010 (UTC),
at position 38°30'N / 65°57' W,”
reported Erik von Krause, the yacht’s navigator.
At the time of the incident, HSH Nordbank was
ahead of its Class II compatriots Zephyrus V and
UCA by 30 nm.
During
a routine spinnaker set, the boat’s spinnaker
pole fitting failed, causing damage to the mast
of the 78-foot Reichel/Pugh sloop formerly known
as Morning Glory. Crewmembers determined that
the damage to the mast was extensive enough not
to continue the roughly 3,000 miles remaining
in this race across the Atlantic and turned back
to Newport. They are expected to arrive sometime
today.
Onboard
the Dutch yacht Zwerver, the crew continued their
progress and filed this report:
“Les
extrèmes se touchent - this morning at
6 AM we were surfing in a 30-35 knot breeze, and
Michel obliterated all records with a staggering
16.5 knots boatspeed - I honestly did not know
you could do this with Zwerver. We needed two
at the helm, seated on opposite sides of the tiller,
one to pull for going down, the other to pull
for going up. The waves were 6-10 feet high (or
something like it - it was rather dark) the spray
was warm, the situation just under control, and
the thrill tangible. Michel started to talk to
the tiller as if he was riding a high performance
stallion, and Philippe's staccato "Caramba!"
came in molto allegretto.”
The
yacht D’Accord, owned by Rolf Erben of Germany,
reported to race headquarters that the boat’s
rudder had broken. All crew are unharmed and they
have retired from the race. They will continue
to Europe with an emergency rudder.
Anny,
the Baltic 87 from Germany, has also retired from
the race due to a malfunction in the propeller.
Anny will continue either to the Azores or to
Lisbon, Portugal.
Additional
information and news about the DaimlerChrysler
North Atlantic Challenge is available on the Internet
at: www.DCNAC.de
